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The Flat Possum Gazette Test Kitchen Courtesy of the Road-Kill Press |
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The Flat Possum Gazette Test Kitchen Courtesy of the Road-Kill Press |
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= Fart Proudly =
Bill,
Occasionally, in my meandering research for the Flat Possum Test Kitchen I run
across selected literature worth saving. Literature often not having to do with
food. One of these gems is a book entitled "FART PROUDLY", the
writings of Benjamin Franklin you never read in school. This book is edited by
Carl Japikse and published by the Enthea Press, P.O. Box 249, Canal Winchester,
Ohio 43110.
Since I do not have their permission to reprint Mr. Franklin's writings, I will
titillate you with some of the chapter headings and you will get the picture:
"On Choosing a Mistress" (Really worthwhile)
"How to Make a Striking Sundial" ("Striking" meaning one gun
sounding at one o"clock, two guns sounding at two o'clock, and so on. The
purpose being so that your neighbors would know what time it is without having
to view the sundial.)
"Transporting Rattlesnakes" written in 1751. ("Rattlesnakes"
being Franklin's name for felonious criminals that Great Britain proposed to
"transport" to the American Colonies to rid themselves of such
unwanted persons. As you remember they actually did, finally, transport
thousands of criminal "rattlesnakes" to populate Australia.)
"Rules on Making Oneself Disagreeable" (This is a good one.)
"Rules by Which a Great Empire May be Reduced" (Good even today)
and my favorite, "The Encouragement of Idleness".
Specifically, this book has to do with Freedom of the Press, because all of
Franklin's writings herein are satirically critical of England and it's
treatment of the Colonies. He was not above using words such as "fart"
and other strong and descriptive language when he wanted to express himself
pungently. His pen was surely effective.
So, as the publishers say: "Fart Proudly is a testament to the
satirical rogue that lived peaceably inside the philosopher and statesman.
It is also a tribute to the ideal of a free press in the United States."
Every once in a while The Flat Possum Test Kitchen will continue to bring up and
hold to the light other plums, judged worthy of investigation.
Dad